Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in Canada and while our Thanksgiving doesn't signify the beginning of the holiday season in quite the same way as the American Thanksgiving does with their huge holiday shopping events - it still seems to motivate us to start thinking about holiday season. So, here's my Thanksgiving wish for you as we move towards the 'craziness' that seems as natural a part of the holiday season as over-indulging - may you find the gratitude in each situation. Despite all the frolicking, feasting, and fun, the holidays can be a very stressful, anxious time. So here's an example of what I mean. It's worth taking a moment to remind ourselves that when we're stressed about all the work of cooking a big, holiday dinner for your family, how blessed/lucky we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives. This is an exercise in re-framing and being mindful of the present.
I was reminded of this at yoga yesterday. Often in yoga and meditation, we count our breaths as a way to quiet and focus the mind. At the beginning of the class, the instructor suggested that rather than counting our breaths as usual, we try counting the things for which we are grateful, calling to mind an image of the object as we inhaled and allowing the warmth of gratitude fill our hearts as we exhaled.
Similarly, this article in the Huffington Post states that "simply acknowledging what you're grateful for can have a direct impact on relaxation. With the hectic schedules and heaps of stress that come along with the holiday season, it's important to remember to take the time to recognize the gifts in your life". #givethanks #lifeisgood
